Consultant Physician in HIV Medicine (Doctor)

What is HIV medicine?

The aim is to control and suppress the HIV virus completely to levels where it is undetectable in the blood - an undetectable viral load. This is done by making sure each patient has the correct course of antiretroviral medication.   You will need to take this medication for the rest of your life, so decisions are based on a number of things, including evidence that will affect the future e.g. will a person’s work affect how and when they can take their medication?

What is the role of an HIV consultant?

The consultant leads a patients care and has overall responsibility for making sure a long term plan is in place. They check and double check all the information relevant to your care through review, reflection and ensuring safe systems are in place. Your named consultant will be either an infectious disease or genitourinary medicine consultant, who specialises in HIV medicine.

What other doctors might a patient see?

You won’t always see your named consultant when you attend and this might be because of rotas, other clinical commitments and to allow trainees to gain experience. You might see registrars who are fully qualified doctors that are training to become HIV specialists.

However, all the decisions about your care ultimately lie with your named consultant.

What is the most important message you have for patients?

Engage with the whole service – all of your  appointments are important and enable us to work with you to provide the best possible care.  If you are unable to attend, please get in touch with us. Don’t wait until crisis point or until the last tablet. Provide feedback and communicate with us.